Digital Commons Network^™

Asimina Triloba (L.) Dunal: The Complete Story Of America’S Forgotten Fruit, Autumn M. Howard

The Cardinal Edge

Asimina triloba, commonly known as the pawpaw, is a unique and historically significant native fruit tree of the eastern United States. This research paper explores the taxonomy, botanical description, distribution, habitat requirements, ecological interactions, economic importance, and reproductive biology of A. triloba. The species is distinguished by its tropical-flavored fruits, adaptation to temperate climates, and reliance on clonal reproduction and specific insect pollinators. While offering promising opportunities for sustainable agriculture and riparian restoration, A. triloba faces challenges related to limited seed dispersal, susceptibility to certain pests and diseases, and the presence of neurotoxic compounds. Despite its historical importance …

Full Issue - Mend V.4, Project Mend

Mend

No abstract provided.

When I Think Of Freedom…, Alexis Kirkpatrick

Mend

No abstract provided.

Contributors - Mend V.4, Project Mend

Mend

No abstract provided.

History Does Not Repeat Itself, But It Often Rhymes: Comparing The Messaging Of Adolf Hitler And Donald Trump, Elaina Varney

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

With the growing divide between the left and right, many on the left have raised alarms that Donald Trump is a fascist. My research paper compares Donald Trump’s messaging to Adolf Hitler’s messaging to find any similarities between the two in order to determine if Trumpism is a precursor to fascism. This study begins by looking at previous scholars’ research into whether or not Trumpism is a precursor to fascism and then I proceed to draw on primary sources such as speeches, Mein Kampf, and Trump’s TruthSocial posts, particularly those related to immigration and minorities, attacks on and suppression …

When Women Weep: The Gendered Politics Of Lamenting And Death In Early Irish Literature, Catherine Van Wey

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

Early Irish literature of the ninth through thirteenth centuries encodes gendered assumptions about women’s emotion through narratives in which grief, sorrow, and shame repeatedly lead to female death. Focusing on the thirteenth-century hagiographic text Tales of the Elders of Ireland, feminist standpoint theory is applied to reveal how male-dominated authorship shapes literary portrayals of women as emotionally excessive, dependent on men, and narratively expendable once those men are lost. Situated within the cultural tradition of female lamentation or caoineadh, these portrayals show how women’s ritual roles as mourners were mythologized and reworked into literary mechanisms that reinforce patriarchal authority. Within …

Early Detection Of Agrilus Planipennis Using Environmental Dna, Hannah Ferguson, Blythe Layton, Matt P. Mills

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

As a recent pest to Oregon, Agrilus planipennis (Emerald Ash Borer, EAB) stands to decimate native ash tree stands, as it has throughout Eastern USA. As shown in common garden studies, Oregon Ash is extremely susceptible to EAB with expected mortality rates of 99% (Herms 2015). EAB infestations are cryptic, and traditional monitoring relies on advanced infestations and costly tree girdling and bark peeling, resulting in appropriate responses lagging the leading edge of the infestation. Environmental DNA (eDNA), the practice of collecting and identifying traces of DNA left in an environmental sample, is a promising tool for early infestation detection …

Gci Invention #258-B: Whirlybird V3.0 – High-Wind Autorotating Fire Suppression & Nutrient Delivery System, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

GCI Invention #258-B describes WHIRLYBIRD v3.0, a passive boundary-layer controlled (PBLC) autorotating samara-wing system for ballistic delivery of fire suppressants and precision nutrients in 70+ mph crosswind conditions.

Aerodynamics: Asymmetric high-camber samara wing with spanwise-zoned vortex-grate perforations (root/mid/tip density gradient), geometric twist, and tip micro-tabs for stable LEV, TSR ≈2.2, and 550-650 RPM autorotation. Chordwise stiffness gradient enables passive gust-load shedding (FoS ≥2.5 ultimate, ≥1.5 fatigue). Central high-inertia core provides gyroscopic stability.

Dispersal: RPM-altitude dual-trigger centrifugal release (550-650 RPM + 15m AGL) with internal vanes for 15m uniform ground coverage. Hybrid pellets (outer Purple-K for flame knockdown + inner MAP/polyphosphate …

Gci Universal Acoustic Access Platform (Uaap V1.0): Modular System For Acoustic Access Research Using Phantom Models, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes the GCI Universal Acoustic Access Platform (UAAP v1.0), a modular research system designed to evaluate acoustic access strategies using phantoms and non‑biological analogs. The platform integrates:

1. Acoustic Window Modules that explore impedance‑matching concepts using gels, water layers, and controlled aerosol layers;

2. An Active Organ‑on‑Chip Laboratory using low‑absorption polymer microfluidics and vortex‑enhanced flow channels; and

3. A Smart Beam Tracker that predicts phantom motion and adjusts transducer alignment in real time.

The UAAP platform enables engineers and researchers to study acoustic transmission through bone‑like materials, air‑gap phantoms, and tissue‑mimicking gels. This disclosure provides system architecture, materials, phantom …

Using Passive Camera Monitoring To Investigate Northern Red-Legged Frog Use Of A New Road Undercrossing Structure, Alyson W. Yates, Catherine De Rivera, Susan Barnes, Rachel Wheat, Justine Brumm

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

Northern Red-legged Frogs (Rana aurora) make seasonal movements between lentic waters and adjacent upland forests to meet their life history requirements. This movement behavior makes the species particularly vulnerable to landscape fragmentation by roads, where traffic can cause large mortality events during the breeding period. To mitigate R. aurora mortality on U.S. Route 30 near Burlington, Oregon, an under-road wildlife crossing structure was installed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and other partners in late 2024, reconnecting a forested public recreation area with protected wetland habitat in the floodplain of the Willamette River.

We used two specialized optical …

Proceedings Of The 24th Annual Urban Ecology & Conservation Symposium March 16, 2026, Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium Of Portland/Vancouver

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

These proceedings document the agenda and abstracts for presentations and posters from the 24th annual conference organized by the Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver (UERC) which occurred on March 16, 2026. The UERC is a consortium of people from various universities and colleges, state and federal agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations and independent professionals interested in supporting urban ecosystem research and creating an information-sharing network of people that collect and use ecological data in the Portland/Vancouver area. The annual conference has an open call for abstracts. The UERC organizing committee selects the final oral and poster presentations, along with …

Within Sacred Walls: Cloister Architecture And The Virgin Mary As The Hortus Conclusus In 14th- And 15th-Century Italian Art, Catherine Howard

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The practice of cloistering allows women to exist in spaces dedicated to meditation and religious devotion. The physical nature of the cloister, which involves walls separating these religious women from the world, maintains a distinction between the cloister as spiritual and the world as secular.

One of the many titles of the Virgin Mary is the hortus conclusus, or “walled garden.” This metaphor is intended to emphasize her spiritual separation from the sins of the world, as well as her perpetual virginity. Artistic depictions of the Virgin in this role, particularly from Italy in the 14th and 15th centuries, often …

The Impact Of The Legalization Of Marijuana On The Under 21 In New Jersey, Sharon Mesmer

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Integrative Multiomic Classification Reveals Distinct Origins And Evolutionary Trajectories Of Thymic Epithelial Tumors., Seongyeol Park, Kijong Yi, Jieun Lee, Myung Jin Yang, Joo-Hye Song, Joonoh Lim, Taewoo Kim, Seokhwi Kim, Su Yeon Kim, Hyung-Don Kim, Yoon Ho Kim, Sae Bom Lee, Yoo Jin Jung, Hansol Park, Jake June-Koo Lee, Yohan An, Jeonghwan Youk, Kwon Joong Na, Samina Park, Hyun Joo Lee, In Kyu Park, Chang Hyun Kang, Eui-Cheol Shin, Tae Min Kim, Won Do Heo, Charles Lee, Gou Young Koh, Sung-Yup Cho, Young Seok Ju, Young Tae Kim

Faculty Research 2026

Thymic epithelial tumors (TET), comprising various histologic types of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, originate from thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Each histologic type is typically associated with a distinct immune cell composition and clinical manifestation. A better understanding of the cellular origins and molecular pathways underlying this heterogeneity is needed to improve patient stratification and treatment. In this study, we conducted an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 124 thymomas and 13 thymic carcinomas, including 20 newly sequenced cases, combined with 117 cases from publicly available datasets. Single-cell transcriptomic data from murine thymic tissues across developmental stages were incorporated to further …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND. Gut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.

METHODS. In a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUNDGut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.METHODSIn a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were held constant. Serum …

Integrative Multiomic Classification Reveals Distinct Origins And Evolutionary Trajectories Of Thymic Epithelial Tumors., Seongyeol Park, Kijong Yi, Jieun Lee, Myung Jin Yang, Joo-Hye Song, Joonoh Lim, Taewoo Kim, Seokhwi Kim, Su Yeon Kim, Hyung-Don Kim, Yoon Ho Kim, Sae Bom Lee, Yoo Jin Jung, Hansol Park, Jake June-Koo Lee, Yohan An, Jeonghwan Youk, Kwon Joong Na, Samina Park, Hyun Joo Lee, In Kyu Park, Chang Hyun Kang, Eui-Cheol Shin, Tae Min Kim, Won Do Heo, Charles Lee, Gou Young Koh, Sung-Yup Cho, Young Seok Ju, Young Tae Kim

Faculty Research 2026

Thymic epithelial tumors (TET), comprising various histologic types of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, originate from thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Each histologic type is typically associated with a distinct immune cell composition and clinical manifestation. A better understanding of the cellular origins and molecular pathways underlying this heterogeneity is needed to improve patient stratification and treatment. In this study, we conducted an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 124 thymomas and 13 thymic carcinomas, including 20 newly sequenced cases, combined with 117 cases from publicly available datasets. Single-cell transcriptomic data from murine thymic tissues across developmental stages were incorporated to further …

Tennessee State Museum Spring 2026 Newsletter & Calendar Of Events, Tennessee. State Museum.

Tennessee State Museum

No abstract provided.

Fostering Audiation In Band Through Modeling Videos, Zachary T. Larsen

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Within band classrooms, teachers have a dual responsibility to nurture students’ growth on their primary instrument and cultivate their ability to audiate. While established pedagogical traditions effectively support the teaching of primary instruments, comparable frameworks for cultivating audiation in band settings remain underdeveloped. This project provides band teachers with scaffolded modeling videos designed to bridge this pedagogical gap and support students' development of audiation.

Buffered Strength: A Narrative Review Of Beta-Alanine Supplementation In Weightlifting And Resistance Training, Ian Brunson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid synthesized endogenously through hepatic metabolism of uracil and obtained in small amounts from dietary sources. In skeletal muscle, beta-alanine combines with histidine to form carnosine, a dipeptide that functions as an intracellular buffer. Beta-alanine is commonly used as a dietary supplement and is frequently included in pre-workout formulations as an ergogenic aid for high-intensity exercise. Beta-alanine supplementation increases intramuscular carnosine concentrations, which may enhance intracellular buffering capacity by regulating hydrogen ion accumulation and delaying fatigue during intense activity.^1,2 Although much research has examined beta-alanine supplementation in endurance, sprinting, and repeated high-intensity exercise contexts …

Defining The Early Temporal Window Of Cerebellar Motor Memory Consolidation In Mice, Benji Nixon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), a cerebellum-dependent reflex that stabilizes gaze during head movement, provides a powerful model for studying motor learning and memory consolidation. The time-dependent process by which short-term memories become stabilized for long-term storage and are gradually redistributed to other brain regions, enabling retention even after damage to the site of early learning. In mice, motor skill memory deficits can be observed as early as four hours post-training, highlighting that systems consolidation varies in timing and extent across reflexes. This thesis examines the time course of motor memory consolidation in the VOR by examining repeated trainings, presented to …

The Story Of Belonging: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Transformative Storytelling As A Catalyst For Belonging, Kennedy Kleinman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines how transformative storytelling functions as a catalyst for belonging within institutional contexts, focusing on Brigham Young University (BYU). While institutions increasingly prioritize belonging through policies and programs, many students continue to experience isolation, loneliness, and belonging uncertainty. This project argues that storytelling addresses this gap by providing students with opportunities to participate in their own belonging and contribute to feelings of belonging for other students. This study analyzes student stories developed in structured workshops and shared at BYU campus StorySLAM events. Stories are evaluated for their use of four rhetorical tactics: counter-narrative, bridge-building between ingroups and outgroups, …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda March 16, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes February 17, 2026
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Reports
• Budget and Faculty Welfare
• Faculty Development and Educational Leadership
• Sustainability Council
• 3:55 Information
• EPC Report - March 5, 2026
• Employee Benefits
• Task Force Report
• 4:15 Additional Business
• 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes March 16, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Reports
• Budget and Faculty Welfare
• Faculty Development and Educational Leadership
• Sustainability Council
• Information
• EPC Report
• Center for Civic Excellence
• Employee Benefits
• Task Force Report
• Additional Business
• 2026-2027 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Adjourn: 4:41 PM

Lanthorn, Vol. 60, No. 13, March 16, 2026, Grand Valley State University

Volume 60, August 4, 2025 – April 20, 2026

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Cannibalism, Predation, And Refuges Of Juvenile Blue Crabsfrom A 37–Year Experiment, Anson H. Hines, Margaret A. Kramer, Kimberly D. Richie, L. David Smith, Robert Aguilar, Matthew B. Ogburn, Eric G. Johnson, Gregory M. Ruiz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

This 37-y record (1989–2025) of field experiments tested seasonal and annual variation in predation on juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in a representative mesohaline site of Chesapeake Bay, USA, where the species is a dominant epibenthic predator and major fishery. We used replicated sets of individually tethered crabs to provide a relative index of lethal and sublethal predation rates on intermolt individuals as a function of size and habitats. Cannibalism by large adult crabs accounted for>97% of predation of juvenile crabs; predation by fish was not observed; and mortality from physiological stress was rare (< 1%). Sampling by depth showed that juveniles occurred in nearshore shallows, while adults were in deeper water. Cannibalism was also depth-dependent: Rates were high at 75 cm depth; intermediate at 40cm; and lowest at 15 cm shallows, which provided partial refuge. Cannibalism was size-dependent: 30 to 50 mm juveniles experienced high rates of predation; 90 to 110mm preadults had low rates; and >120 mm adults …

An Exploration Into Network Analyses Of Motor Behavior, Brain-Computer Interface Control, Arousal States, And An Ischemic Lesion Model, Shashank Anand

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Network-level modelling of neural function incorporates activity in specific brain regions along with a measure of the interactions between these regions (“connectivity”). Connectivity can be assessed through several means, for example through tractography (structural connectivity) or correlated temporal evolution of neural activity (functional connectivity). These analyses have provided valuable insight into several aspects of brain function, such as top-down control, memory, and navigation. This work focuses on studying neural activity within and between several brain regions across different brain states: namely, during motor actions, sensory perception, brain-computer interface engagement, task-free fluctuations in arousal state, and ischemic injury. High gamma (70-170 …

Ifnγ-Induced Antigen Loss In Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cell Therapy, Miao Cao, Jasmine Alvarez, Ramkrishna Mitra, Michael Xu, Trevor R. Baybutt, Zhengyang Sun, Oluwatobiloba Taylor, Allison Doermann, Ross E Staudt, Scott A. Waldman, Adam E. Snook

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: FDA-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cell therapies (CARTs) have revolutionized the treatment of blood cancers. Yet none have been successful for "solid" tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths. Guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C) has emerged as a clinical-stage target for CART and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies in CRC. IFNγ has been canonically recognized as beneficial for the effector functions of T cells by enhancing antigen processing and HLA presentation and is essential for CART targeting of solid malignancies by inducing adhesion molecule expression for synapse stabilization.

METHODS: Using

RESULTS: We identified …

Targeting Il-1 Signaling In Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: Improved Survival And Pathogenesis In Rdeb Mouse Model, Rahim Hirani

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a devastating inherited blistering disorder caused by biallelic mutations in COL7A1, resulting in deficiency of type VII collagen (C7) and loss of dermal–epidermal adhesion. Beyond mechanical fragility, RDEB is characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive fibrosis, impaired wound healing, severe pain, and an exceptionally high risk of aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Emerging transcriptomic and cytokine profiling studies have identified interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) as a dominant and temporally upstream inflammatory mediator in RDEB skin. The central hypothesis of this dissertation is that IL-1α signaling functions as a key initiator and amplifier of inflammation-driven pathology …

Lifestyle Intervention Therapy Modulates Global Dna Methylation And Adipogenic Gene Expression In Severely Obese Hypogonadal Men, Siresha Bathina, Virginia Fuenmayor Lopez, Mia Prado, Salina Biene Teo, Dennis T Villareal, Rui Chen, Clifford Qualls, Reina Armamento-Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Previous studies have suggested that lifestyle intervention (LSI) therapies involving diet and exercise can modulate DNA methylation; however, whether this occurs in severely obese hypogonadal men undergoing weight loss from diet and exercise remains unclear.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of weight loss from diet and exercise on global DNA methylation as well as on the mRNA expression of specific demethylation enzymes, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B—in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and DNA methylation markers in DNA of severely obese hypogonadal men. This is a secondary analysis of samples of severely obese (body …